Pandian Express runs with LHB coaches

Pandian Express runs with LHB coaches

Photo: R. AshokMORE STEEL: Fire extinguishers and aesthetically-designed stainless steel wash basin in the air-conditioned LHB coaches of Pandian Express.

Photo: R. AshokNew ladder for reaching upper berths introduced in first AC coach of LBH rakes in Pandian Express.

“These coaches have more stainless steel and thereby the weight of the coach is approximately 10 per cent less”

Rail journey in Pandian Express, the flagship train of Madurai Railway Division, will not be the same any more.

For the superfast train has got a pair of LHB or Linke Hofmann Busch rakes.

Divisional Railway Manager, Sunil Kumar Garg, flagged off the first train with LHB coaches that come with German technology, here on Monday night.

Indigenously manufactured in Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala and Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, the coaches are approximately 1.7 metres longer than the conventional ICF coaches, said Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer, Jay Prakash, said.

“This provides more seating capacity with wider bays and doorway,” he said.

The coaches come with additional berths – 80 berths in sleeper class (instead of 72 berths); 24 in First AC (18/20); 52 in II AC (46), – and 100 seats in general compartment instead of 90 in conventional coaches, he said.

“These coaches have more stainless steel and thereby the weight of the coach is approximately 10 per cent less than the conventional coaches,” he added. This will enable the trains to run faster matching the track speed.

With no electrical facility in the undergear of the coaches, the rakes come with generator cars on both ends. “The independent generator cars will reduce the burden on the locomotives for power requirement of the coaches,” Mr. Jay Prakash said.

These coaches are fitted with microprocessor-controlled high capacity air conditioning system, which gives passengers better comforts during summer and winter season.

The steel body will also ensure lesser corrosion and easier maintenance with longer life.

The coaches also have axle-mounted disc brakes that will give superior braking power in reducing the speed or stopping the train quickly.Aesthetic look

Higher usage of steel provided better aesthetic look to the coach that has better interiors with large windows, steel wash basins in and outside the toilets. The coaches have been designed with lesser noise inside. It has anti-skid PVC flooring.

Besides, the Fiat technology used in LHB coaches is both heat and cold resistant. The new technology consumes less energy while creating heat and cooling effect in these new coaches.

The controlled discharge toilet system (CDTS) in LHB coaches is an added advantage. The windows are wider and each coach has a pantry provision. The railways has partially modified the design of these coaches to fulfil the needs of passengers.

Instead of the emergency alarm chain, the new coaches come in a new design which will identify the bay from where the alarm was used.

The Additional Divisional Railway Manager, P.V. Murali Krishna, was present.